OVER the past few weeks, you have published a number of letters concerning the role of the council in keeping the streets clean. As chairman of the environment services sub-committee this is partly my committee's responsibility.

Contrary to popular belief, we do cleanse the streets on a weekly basis and this is normally done after bins have been emptied. Ours is one of only a few boroughs which cleanse streets on a regular basis.

We have a refuse collection every week to make sure bins are emptied. If we miss them for some reason, then we make sure we empty them later.

We make sure back streets are cleaned and gullies are emptied. We remove bulky domestic rubbish, in most cases free of charge.

In areas that have needed extra cleansing, this service has been provided. We received well over 25,000 requests to take away domestic bulky refuse free of charge. We provide a white goods collection, this includes cookers and washers which are recycled through charitable organisations.

We were one of the only councils which had a collection service over the festive holiday.

I welcome comments and suggestions that would make the service we provide better for residents.

How do we stop people dropping litter in public places (fish and chip papers, pizza boxes, beer cans, cigarette packets, chewing gum etc)? How do we stop people dumping rubbish in empty gardens when we can take it away for free?

It is not the council which makes the rubbish, but it is us who have to clear it away. So before you criticise, ask yourself: "Have I dropped any rubbish today?"

COUN TONY HUMPHRYS, chairman environment services sub-committee, Blackburn with Darwen Council.

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